Northern Fishers to Meet in Colombo Over Indian Poaching

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries has renewed its focus on halting bottom trawling by Indian fishermen within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries, the Sea of Sri Lanka.

Discussions are underway to address the issue, with a delegation of Northern Province fishermen expected to travel to Colombo in the coming days for high-level talks.

Bottom trawling—a destructive fishing method that involves dragging heavy nets across the seafloor—has long been a point of contention between Sri Lankan and Indian fishing communities. The practice not only depletes marine resources but also damages the seabed and disrupts local livelihoods.

In response, the Sri Lankan Navy has been instructed to intensify maritime surveillance and operational activity in affected areas to deter illegal fishing practices.

The Ministry has expressed optimism that a resolution to the Indo-Sri Lankan fisheries dispute could be reached in the coming months.